Paul Vixeboxse

Paul Vixeboxse (4 June 1660-17 May 1721) was an admiral of the Dutch Navy who fought in the Scanian War and the Hanoverian War.

Biography
Vixeboxse was born in Gouda in the United Provinces in 1660, and enlisted in the Dutch Navy at the age of 12. Vixeboxse fought in the Scanian War and saw action in the 1676 Battle of Oland, during which he was promoted to Midshipman for his savvy in fighting. He proceeded to become quartermaster for the ship "Achilles" in 1678, and in 1687 he was made a squadron commander. Under this title, Vixeboxse aided in the cross-channel invasion of England in 1688, ferrying Willem III of Orange over to England to conquer the country.

In the War of the Grand Alliance, he continued to fight in the navy, attacking French and Spanish merchant shipping in the North Sea. He performed this role again in the Hanoverian War of 1703-1704, serving as a subordinate of Admiral Jordaan Grotius. Vixeboxse fought in the Battle of Rostock as the commander of a three-ship squadron of sloops, and attempted to hit the Swedish navy's rear; he arrived late due to strong winds and he was captured in battle.

In the aftermath of the war in 1704, he was allowed to return home to the Netherlands, and he retired in shame. He died in 1721 in Brill, where he served as a banker.